Commissioning a network system

Abstract

A wireless network system ( 30, 60 ) and a method for commissioning a wireless network system ( 30, 60 ) is described. The network system ( 30, 60 ) comprises at least a network device ( 1, 1′, 1″ ) and a joining device ( 21, 81, 91, 101, 111 ). In a commissioning mode, the network device ( 1, 1′, 1″ ) broadcasts network identification information. The joining device ( 21, 81, 91, 101, 111 ) sends, upon reception of the network identification information, a request to said network device ( 1, 1′, 1″ ) to join the network, comprising a predefined address of said joining device ( 21, 81, 91, 101, 111 ). The network device ( 1, 1′, 1″ ) assigns said joining device ( 21, 81, 91, 101, 111 ) a network address and stores corresponding data. The network device ( 1, 1′, 1″ ) sends joining information comprising at least said network address to said joining device ( 21, 81, 91, 101, 111 ) using said predefined address and said joining device ( 21, 81, 91, 101, 111 ) receives the network address, so that the joining device ( 21, 81, 91, 101, 111 ) is addressable in the network system ( 30, 60 ) using said network address.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless network system, comprising:
 a network device configured for operation in a first network system and comprising at least a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless medium, and 
 a joining device comprising at least a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless medium and having a predetermined proximity value associated therewith, said joining device being configured with a network address for operation in a second network system, said network device and said joining device being configured for operation in a discovery mode, wherein 
 said network device broadcasts a discovery message for providing proximity information, corresponding to the distance between said network device and said joining device, and 
 said joining device is configured, upon receipt of said discovery message, to determine, whether said proximity information corresponds to said predetermined proximity value and, if so, to enter a commissioning mode, so that said joining device is addressable in said first network system. 
 
     
     
       2. A wireless network system according to  claim 1 , wherein said joining device comprises a device configuration memory element for storing at least said network address and wherein, if said proximity information corresponds to said proximity value, said joining device is configured to reset said device configuration memory element. 
     
     
       3. A method of commissioning a wireless network system including a network device configured for operation in a first network system and a joining device configured for operation in a second network system and having a network address associated therewith, the method comprising:
 broadcasting a discovery message by said network device for providing proximity information, corresponding to the distance between said network device and said joining device, 
 said joining device comprising at least a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless medium and having a predetermined proximity value associated therewith, said network device and said joining device being configured for operation in a discovery mode, and 
 determining, by said joining device upon receipt of said discovery message, whether said proximity information corresponds to the predetermined proximity value and, if so, entering a commissioning mode, so that said joining device is addressable in said first network system.